I'm a teacher here and Crime rate is something to consider — Dayton sits at 962.1 per 100K. It's a a mid-size city city with about 137K people. Household incomes average around $43,454 in Dayton. Poverty rate is 20.9%, which is higher than I expected. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much.
3 upvotes
15 Replies
Maverick Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 49, moved here 14 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Downtown and Riverside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The cultural scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for families. improving vibes, walkable.
- Riverside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Houston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
39 upvotes
Matthew Stewart
literally same
39 upvotes
Declan Green
great question, following
36 upvotes
Piper Campbell
Moved here from Atlanta about 9 years ago. I genuinely enjoy living here. Still getting used to traffic but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
33 upvotes
Colton Stewart
facts
30 upvotes
Angel Miller
preach
27 upvotes
Hunter Cox
I'm a writer and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
24 upvotes
Violet C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 12 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is cost of living. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the dating scene is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Old Town side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
24 upvotes
Ryan C.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a sales manager who relocated here from Boston about 5 years ago. The main reasons were retirement and cost of living.
Pros I've experienced:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Decent public transit for the size
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Nightlife is limited
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are manageable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
22 upvotes
Elizabeth Stewart
Weather-wise, the summers are decent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
11 upvotes
Ezra Anderson
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. walkability used to be much affordable but now it's decent.
10 upvotes
Lily Turner
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 49, moved here 2 years ago from Miami. I've lived in Downtown and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The healthcare situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for couples. excellent vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Miami, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$120K here.
**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
9 upvotes
chill_colton4
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
8 upvotes
Aria Carter
hard disagree but ok
6 upvotes
Kinsley Alvarez
I've lived in Cedar Grove for about 14 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from San Diego, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The school system scene is surprisingly good
The downsides:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Chain restaurants dominate
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Hope this helps!.
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